Filing equipment



Dec. 10, 1946. B. HUNTER 2,412,219

I N v E N T OR BAA/NE A uA/TE/Q ATTO RN EY Dec. 10, 1946 HUNTER 2,412,219

FILING EQUIPMENT Filed April 20, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 54A/NE HUNT 5R ATTO R N EY Dec. 10, 1946. B. HUNTER 2,412,219

FILING EQUIPMENT Filed April 20, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1946 FILING EQUIPMENT Blaine Hunter, United StatesNavy,

Staten Island, N. Y.

Application April 20, 1945, Serial No. 589,423

7 Claims.

1 This invention relates to filing systems and equipment. Specifically it has to do with the mechanics of making files available and facilitating the work of file clerks in getting material from and distributing material among many files.

A great many forms of filing equipment for vertical files are in use, but in large industries with their numerous records and extensive turnover of the records, the fioor area occupied by file cabinets is necessarily large and the clerks walk long distances in getting papers from and returning papers to the files under their individual charge.

To relieve the clerks f the necessity of walking so much in the performance of theirduties, an expedient has heretofore been provided in the form of traveling cabinets which can be rolled back and forth by a clerk seated at a desk adjacent the path of a cabinet, and thus the desired filing space can be brought to the clerk. More specifically this prior structure is a long, open top trough-like receptacle for the files which is mounted to move on antifriction rollers along a track.

While this construction of filing equipment relieves the clerk of the necessity of walking back and forth along the receptacle, it has certain definite disadvantages. In the first place it requires nearly double the floor; space actually occupied by the file holder, in order to provide room for movement. Also there is a limit to the weight which can be moved with the ordinarily available strength of a file clerk, and consequently there is a limit to the practical length of each unit.

This invention provides a construction which also permits the clerk or operator to remain seated while performing the filing functions, but which obviates the disadvantages above mentioned.

In accordance with this invention a traveling carriage is provided for the operators seat which rolls upon a track alongside of an elongated file receptacle, and preferably two receptacles are disposed side by side with just enough space for the carriage and track between them. In this way the two files are accessible to a single operator who can roll himself back and forth along the files as required.

More specifically the receptacles are long, open top members provided at intervals with fixed spacers which have a projection on their top edge near the inner end thereof which can be grasped by the operator and pulled or pushed on to move the carriage. Preferably the spacers in the two receptacles will be staggered so that a spacer will .at all times be within reach of either the right or left hand of the operator.

In order to secure the carriage against accidentab movement the invention contemplates brake means which are normally applied and which are released .by the operator through a conveniently located pedal.

The passage-way between the receptacles along which the carriage is guided is provided at each d with bumper means. Therefore, in order to provide admission for the operator, at least one of the receptacles has an end section hinged to swing out, being normally hooked to hold it in allned position. The track, which serves as the guide for the carriage, is preferably on a platform .to which the filing receptacles are fixed except as to the hinged end section which is free of the platform but is connected to the rest of the receptacle by the hinges. In this way the equip ment composes a unitary structure which is movable as a unit.

Conveniently a table or desk may be provided on the carriage which will extend across the space between the receptacles and preferably slightly overhang the receptacles so that files are not apt to fall between the carriage and receptacles. The seat will normally be located so that the pedal is underneath the desk.

With this equipment a single operator can service two file receptacles of considerable length and the physical labor entailed is reduced to a minimum. If desired, of course, the carriage can be provided with automatic motor equipment, but it has been found that with proper antifriction rolling support for the carriage, it can be manually translated by the operator with the exercise of moderate force.

Other specific features of the invention will appear from the following description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing two equipments embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of one of the equipments with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are details of the carriage and brake mechanism, Fig. 3 being a plan partially in section, Fig. 4 being a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 being a section on line 5-5 of 3.

In Fig. 1 are shown two units which are identical in construction. A platform or runway I has two file'holders or receptacles 2 and 3 disposed along opposite sides thereof. As shown, the file receptacles are long, open, trough-like structures supported by legs 4 which are arranged within convenient reach of the operator.

pairs at spaced intervals. To secure the receptacles to the platform, the platform is shown provided with properly spaced and shaped es along each side to receive the inner legs thus tie the parts together. Also a tie rod I between the receptacles at their forward end may be provided.

The receptacles are provided atlntervals with fixed but removable spacers or separators O which may be located in vertical slots, as shown. These separators have projections in on their upper edges at their inner ends where they may be conveniently grasped by an operator and .used as fixed hand grips for pushing and pulling", as will be later described. The separators in the two receptacles are shown as staggered with respect to each other, so as to assure that a projeetion Co on one side or the other will aways separators are substantially .equally spaced and the staggering is effected by providing a short section at the front end ofv one of the receptacles.

- In the construction shown, the short section is at the front end of receptacle 3, and the fixed separator Oh for that short section does not have a projection since it is out of convenient reach of the operator and would have no function as a hand grip. Ordinarily the short space in front of separator Ob is used for transient files. The projections la are used for index information as well as for hand grips.

The platform I is provided with two rails l which in the form shown are provided with V-shape longitudinal grooves having along the bottoms thereof a rod of metal or equivalent material on which run the wheels 8 of a carriage 9, the grooves serving as guides for the carriage. Thecarri-age extends the full spacebetween the receptacles 2 and 3 and is rectangular in shape, being long enough to receive a chair l and a table or desk H for the operator. The legs lid of the desk stand near the edges of the carriage and provide space underneath the desk for a pedal member of the brake mechanism and for operation of the pedal member. The chair is preferably fixed in position but may be made adjustable longitudinally of the carriage by cooperative angle and channel members l2 and I3 and securing pins I which engage in registering holes in the cooperative members.

The spacing between the receptacles is such that an operator seated in the chair is close to each .receptacle and can easily reach the files in either receptacle. Since the projections on the separators are on the inner sides of the separators, the operator always has one within arms length. A slight pull or push on the fixed part of the receptacle is all that is necessary to cause the carriage to roll in the desired direction. The top of the desk ll preferably will slightly overhang the inner faces of the receptacles.

To prevent inadvertent and undesired movement of the carriage 9, a normally applied brake mechanism is provided. This is shown particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and is located under the desk.- A pedal or treadle II is pivoted on angle brackets IS on the carriage 9 through a pivot rod I! that passes through the brackets I8 and cooperative angle brackets" on the under side of the pedal, a head on one end and a nut on the other securing the rod II in place.

A flat brake shoe I9 is disposed on the under side of thecarriage in position to engage the platform. l. A lug 20 on the brake shoe extends up through the carriage and is connected by linkage 4 Ii totheundersideofthepedal llontheside of the pivot away from the operator. Under the pedalcnthenearsideofthepivotisaspring Ila which is secured to the carriage and bears on the under side of the pedal and tendsto raise the near side of the pedal and apply the brake. 'I'hepedalisofthewidthofthechairandis located so that the feet of the occupant of the chair rest upon it. To release the carriage for movement, the operator pushes down on the pedal and to stop movement of the carriage the operator has only to release the pedal.

To prevent overrun of the platform, a bumper 22 is provided at the front end and a bumper I! at the back end in the form of a wicket. The operator is thus effectively closed within the passageway of the platform during Op ration. To facilitate the operator's access to this space, at least one of the receptacles has a rear end section which is hinged. In the form shown both receptacles have such a section, marked respectively 2a and la. These sections have legs to which do not interlock with the platform I as do the legs 4, the platform being cut away to accommodate the legs and the legs being preferably provided with casters, as shown. The swinging sections are hinged to the fixed portions of the receptacles 2 and 3, respectively, by hinges 24 arranged to allow the sections to swing out, and hook elements 28 provide means to secure the sections against swinging during operation.

To cover the files when not in use, a strip fl is provided for each receptacle which is secured at one end'to the receptacle and rolled up and held there when not used. It is of a width and length effectively to cover the files and has means, such a button or snap fasteners, to hold its free end in place when serving as a cover.

It is obvious that the construction shown in the drawings and above particularly described, may be variously changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim: 1

1. Equipment for filing and the like comprising a stationary platform, an elongated open top receptacle fixed upon the platform, guide means on the platform parallel and in close proximity to the adjacent side of the receptacle, fixed separators spaced at intervals in the receptacle and each having a projection on its top edge at its end abutting said adjacent side, a translatable carriage on the platform having antifriction means guided in the guide means, and a seat for an operator on the carriage disposed within convenient reach successively of said projections on the separators.

2'. Equipment for filing and the like comprising a stationary platform, an elongated open top receptacle fixed upon the platform, guide means on the platform parallel and in close proximity to the adjacent side of the receptacle, fixed separators spaced at intervals in the receptacle and each having a projection on its top edge at its end abutting said adjacent side, a translatable 'carriage on the platform having antifriction means guided in the guide means, a seat for an operator on the carriage disposed within convenient reach successively of said projections on the separators,

brake means onthe carriage normally engaging means guided in the guide means, a seat for an operator on the carriage disposed within con-' venient reach successively of said projections on the separators, a pivoted pedal member on the undue in front of the seat extending substan tially across the carriage, a brake member underneath the carriage in position to engage the platform and having a lug on its upper side accessible through the carriage, link means connecting the lug to the pedal member on the side of the pivot remote from the seat, and spring means tending to raise the side of the pedal adjacent the seat and thus depress the brake member.

4. Equipment for filing and the like comprising an elongated platform, guide means extending lengthwise of the platform, a translatable carriage on the platform having antifriction means uided in the guide means, two elongated open top receptacles disposed on opposite sides of the guide means parallel thereto and secured to the platform and spaced approximately the width of the carriage, fixed separators spaced at intervals in each receptacle and each having a projection on its top edge at its end adjacent the guide means, a seat for an operator on the carriage within reach successively of the projections on the separators in both receptacles, tie means securing the two receptacles together at their forward ends and limiting movement of the carriage in that direction, and a bumper limiting move-' ment of the carriage at the rear end of the platform, at least one of the receptacles having a section at its rear end free of the platform and a? to swing out and afford access to the car- 5. Equipment for filing and the like comprising an elongated platform, guide means extending lengthwise of the platform, a translatable to the platform and spaced approximately the width of the carriage, fixed separators spaced at intervals ineach receptacle, those in one receptacle being disposed in transverse planes having staggered relation to the planes of the separators in the other receptacle, and each separator having a projection on its top edge at its end adjacent the guide means, a seat for an operator on the carriage within reach successively of the projections on the separators in both receptacles, and stop means at both ends of the platform limiting movement of the carriage.

6. Equipment for filing and the like comprising an elongated platform, guide means extending lengthwise of the platform, a translatable carriage on the platform having antifriction means guided in the guide means, two elongated open top receptacles disposed on opposite sides of the guide means parallel thereto and secured to the platform and spaced approximately the width of the carriage, fixed separators spaced at intervals in each receptacle, those in one receptacle being disposed in transverse planes having staggered relation to the planes of the separators in the other receptacle, and each separator having a projection on its top edge at its end adjacent the guide means, a seat for an operator on the carriage within reach successively of the projections on the separators in both receptacles, brake means on the carriage normally engaging the platform and arresting the carriage, and Pedal operated means adjacent the seat for releasing the brake means.

7. Equipment for filing and the like comprising an elongated platform, guide means extending lengthwise .of the platform, a translatable carriage on the platform having antifriction means guided in the guide means, two elongated open top receptacles disposed on opposite sides of the guide means parallel thereto and secured to the platform and spaced approximately the end adjacent the guide means, a seat for an operator on the carriage within reach successively of the projections on the separators in both receptacles, brake means on the carriage normally engaging the platform and arresting the carriage, pedal operated means adjacent the seat for releasing the brake means, and a work rest on the carriage disposed over the pedal operated means and approximately at the level of the saidprojections and extending across the space between the receptacles.

' BLAINE HUNTER. 

